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Read MoreWilliams Family Decendants Cemetery Dedication
WILLIAMS RANCH CEMETERY, MILLS COUNTY, TEXAS Williams Ranch is one of the oldest settlements in Mills County, Texas and near the town of Mullin, was home to some of my mother’s ancestors, both from the Williams and Chesser sides. My Uncle Luther Williams, along with members of the Association, have been working diligently to place an historical marker at the cemetery that is still there and which...
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Read MoreHistory Day
The tranquil atmosphere mutes the modern world as I walk into Pioneer Hall at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas. It’s so peaceful here, and in 285,000 square feet it’s easy to forget the tensions outside. Surrounded by the past, I’m spending the day with people who love history as much as I do. Students, teachers, and parents gathered at the museum this past...
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Read MoreTexas Sunrise
The month of January 2013 has begun with some amazing sunrises here in the Texas Panhandle. I thought you might like to see a few of them for yourself. There was never a night or a problem that could defeat SUNRISE or Hope. – B. Williams “There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of...
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Read MoreLongfellow’s Christmas Bells
The story and sorrow behind the words. by Natalie Bright A ‘spark’ for writers is the moment an idea is ignited in our mind. The actual words may appear that very moment as notes on a restaurant napkin, or it may be months from now. I have spark notes written on everything. Sticky notes, an essential tool for writers, completely covers the wall next to my desk. You just never know what those...
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Read MoreTruck Cookies and Piles of Worms
“Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can’t even describe, aren’t even aware of.” ELLEN GOODMAN “I’m putting a truck on mine,” proclaimed my eight-year-old. “That’s a great idea!” I said. Dump trucks are not ordinarily parked on holiday cookies, but expressing oneself is an important part of growing up....
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Read MoreHanging Garland
“Why are you hanging that stuff on the stairs?” my then curious fourth grader asked. The stuff was garland and I’d never really considered the why. My grandmother wrapped it around the small pillars in her dining room. My mother hung evergreen wreaths on every door. We always had a nativity arranged on the side table. It’s just something mom did. His question nudged at my brain, and I kept wondering why....
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Read MoreSound Advice from a Southern Grandma
She was known as Clara Iylene (Shuffield) Williams, but I called her Maw. She was my mother’s mom, born from sturdy German ancestors which explains her working ethic. A woman of unfaltering faith and totally devoted to my grandfather which explains how they successfully raised four kids on a cotton farm on the High Plains of Texas. During the time I spent with her, she shared many unique and wonderful...
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Read MoreFor the Love of Horse!
As a western writer, there’s no doubt that horses have an important role in my stories about the old west. Horses are hyper-sensitive to everything and everyone around them. They are super-smart, skittish, unpredictable, mystical, and magical. If they have a job to do, they want to do it. If they respect you as the rider, they’ll do anything you ask of them. They are not fond of messing around...
About Natalie Bright
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Most Recent Articles
Fence Painting
Lesssons learned while painting fence in the middle of nowhere As a writer, I tend to gravitate to the chores offering mind-numbing labor and solitude. It’s a great opportunity to sort out story ideas...
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Up the Road a Piece…
Inside the historic Skirvin Hilton The soft jazzey sounds from another era floated softly over head as I entered the impressive lobby. Floral design fabric and wood columns topped with gilded images of...
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Lost Birthdays Remembered
During the past weekend a special birthday occurred, but it wasn’t celebrated....
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Writers Write-
-and attend conferences. There is nothing like a room full of creative people...
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